James 1:19-27
Listening and Doing
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
雅各書1:19-27
1:19 我親愛的弟兄姊妹們,你們每一個人都應該隨時聆聽別人的意見,
一、中心內容:
內容:
1>當少說、多聽、慢慢的動怒。(v19-20)Talk less; listen more; be slow to anger. (v19-20)
2>當脫離不良的惡習,接受上帝種在我們心中的道。(v21)
3>不要單單聽道,更重要的是行道。(v22-24)Do not merely listen to the Word, more importantly, do what it says. (v22-24)
4>確實行道的人,上帝必然賜福。(v25)God will bless those who truthfully walk in His way. (v25)
5>要學會管束自己的舌頭,才能稱為虔誠人。(v26)Only those who learn to hold their tongues will be considered religious people. (v26)
6>善於照顧孤兒寡婦,保守自己不受世界腐化的人,
主題:基督徒的生活準則 Rules of Christians Life
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰?
1>公義的上帝。(v20)God is righteous. (v20)
2>賜下話語(道)的上帝。(v21)God who gives His Word to the world. (V21)
三、給我的教訓(命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告)是什麼?
1>多聽少說慢發怒 Listen more; talk less; be slow to anger
我親愛的弟兄姊妹們,你們每一個人都應該隨時聆聽別人的意見,
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (v19-20)
針 對部份喜歡高談闊論,甚至習慣與人激烈爭辯,尤其經常大動肝火、
To Christians who are opinionated and used to overly excited arguing and debating, James gives advice which are to constantly listen to others’ opinions, not to be hasty in speech, nor to easily become angry; for man’s anger does not bring about God’s righteousness. As it says in Proverbs 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”
反省:當與人相處、交往時,我是說得多,還是聽得多?
Reflection: Whenever I am around people, do I talk or listen most of the time? Do I delight in showing off my personal opinions and often debate with others to the point of becoming agitated, aggravated and irritated? Am I a wise man with good understanding?
2>領受真道除罪行 To receive Truth is to get rid of sin
所以,你們要掙脫一切不良的習慣和邪惡的行為,
21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (v21)
雅 各接著談到,想要成就上帝公義目的的人,
James continued, to become a man of God’s righteousness, one should get rid of all the filthy thoughts and evil habits which prevail in one’s heart. Be quiet and submissive before God with a humble heart, accept God’s redemptive Word which He planted in our hearts and let it take root. Humility also is one of the fruits of Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:23 and one of the Beatitudes mentioned in Matthew 5:5.
反省:我是否渴慕並勤讀聖經,讓上帝那真理、能拯救靈魂的道,
Reflection: Do I thirst for and diligently read God’s Word to let the saving Truth take root in my heart, and to gradually get rid of all the filthy thoughts and evil deeds which are of the old-self?
3>不單聽道要行道 Do not merely listen to the Word but also do what it says
但是,你們不要欺騙自己,以為只要聽道就夠了;相反地,
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (v22-24)
當雅各談完要以溫柔的心(謙卑的態度)安靜順服在上帝面前,
After talking about being humble before God and accepting God’s Word into one’s heart, James followed by emphasizing living out God’s Word. It is not good enough to merely listen to the Word; moreover, one should do what it says. For the one who merely listens to the Word and not apply it in their personal life, it would be in vain.
雅各接著又打個比方說:只聽道而不行道的人,
He compared those who merely listen to the Word without living it to those who immediately forget what they look like after going away from the mirror. They did not look carefully into the dirty spots on their faces. The way they looked at themselves in the mirror was useless.
反省:每當我讀完聖經之後,是否除了增加宗教知識之外,
Reflection: Whenever I finish reading the Bible, other than increased biblical knowledge, do I do anything in my personal life regarding what I read? Do I reflect on it and make practical, tangible changes to follow it, thus transforming my life and my relationships with others?
4>因行律法而蒙福
但是,嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人,
25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (v25)
當 雅各談完行道的重要性之後,接著又針對行道的問題作了一些補充,
In addition to his teaching, James mentioned of one looking intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues doing it (to understand the essence and true meaning of God’s perfect and flawless word and not to be in bondage of flesh and sin), such a person did not forget what he heard but actually followed it; he would be blessed by God in everything he did.
惟喜愛耶和華的律法,晝夜思想,這人便為有福!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)
反省:身為基督徒的我,如何追求福氣?
Reflection: As a Christian, how should I pursue blessings? What is the difference between the blessings I pursue and the secular blessings? Did I grasp the secret for blessing? Do I thirst for God’s word and do it ?
5>謹慎話語表虔誠 To hold one’s tongue is considered religious
誰自以為虔誠,卻不管束自己的舌頭,便是欺騙自己;
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (v26)
雅 各接著談到有關「行道」的實例,首先提到「話語」的問題。他 說:
James gave a live example to illustrate the meaning of doing God’s Word. He said, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (v26) Thus, this is a false religion. Apparently, words and religion, tongue and faith are inseparable.
反省:通常我的話語如何?是否能約束自己的口舌?
Reflection: Usually how do I handle my words? Am I able to restrain my tongue? Can I prove my reverence toward God through my tongue?
6>關愛孤寡表虔誠 To care for orphans and widows is considered religious
在父上帝眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (V27)
當談完話語之後,接著又談到有關「看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦」
Following the issue of the tongue, he mentioned the issue of looking after orphans and widows in distress. A person who truly reveres God will automatically look after the minority in the society who are like orphans and widows.
反省:我對社會中的弱勢者,是否常常生出惻隱、憐憫之心?
Reflection: Do I often show mercy and grace toward the minority in the society? Do I take any tangible action to help? Am I selfish and ignorant of these people? Am I a real religious person?
7>與世分別表虔誠 To set oneself apart from the world is considered religious
在父上帝眼中,那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是:
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (v27)
當談完有關「看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦」的問題之後,
反省:在這個價值觀混淆、是非不分、敗壞墮落的世代中,
Reflection: Are my deeds different from the rest of the world, which is obscure in worldview, unclear over the issue of right and wrong and morally rotten? Am I sensitive to sin? Am I capable of being light and salt to the world? Am I considered religious?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用
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